Overview & Reviews

A relative newcomer to the American marketplace, Hyundai is a Korean automaker with a product line that has improved greatly over the past decade. Hyundai cars and SUVs provide a high level of content for an affordable price, and are currently backed by one of the industry's longest warranties.

In 1947, Chung Ju Yung founded the Hyundai Civil Engineering Company. Mere months later, the outfit was bombed in the Korean War. However, the company regained its footing to distinguish itself as one of Korea's leading construction enterprises during the 1950s.

By the late 1960s, Chung had turned his attention to the automobile industry. The Korean government at that time believed that it made more sense to import vehicles than produce them domestically, and had made its opinion known. Still, Chung opted to follow his own convictions, and in 1967, he founded the Hyundai Motor Company.

The company quickly established an alliance with one of the industry's oldest automakers, signing a two-year contract with Ford in 1968 to share assembly technology. Hyundai's first car, the Cortina, was created from that partnership. The manufacturer's first car to be designed and built in Korea was the compact Pony (although the car was based on Japanese technology courtesy of Mitsubishi). The vehicle made its debut in 1974, and the following year Hyundai began exporting it to overseas markets.

Hyundai entered the U.S. market in 1986 with the introduction of its subcompact Excel. The car was an immediate hit, with its supreme affordability being a primary selling point. More than 100,000 Excels were sold stateside in the first seven months. By 1988, Hyundai had begun to produce cars using its own technology. The midsize Sonata was the first fruit borne of this endeavor.

Unfortunately, Hyundai's nascent image was soon tarnished by the poor durability and reliability of its vehicles. Sales tanked. However, rather than abandon the American market in the '90s, Hyundai chose to invest heavily in new product designs and improvements in overall quality and reliability. In 1998, Hyundai also purchased Kia, another Korean automaker, to expand its business and economies of scale.

It all started to pay off by the start of the new millennium, with the 2001 Elantra in particular showing massive improvements in overall quality, reliability and performance. Other models followed suit and the desirability of Hyundai cars increased sharply. Providing an extraordinarily long warranty period didn't hurt either.

Today's lineup is indicative of Hyundai's complete turnaround. Hyundai has a vehicle for nearly every segment, including the economical Accent subcompact, the popular Elantra compact, the midsize Sonata sedan (also available as a hybrid), sporty Genesis and Veloster coupes and a couple of stylish SUVs. Hyundai has also expanded into the entry-level and premium-level luxury sedan markets with its Genesis and Equus sedans. Having gone from being the butt of late-night TV jokes in the 1980s to a well-respected manufacturer of quality vehicles, Hyundai has created a very inspiring rags-to-riches story.

User Reviews:

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  Amazing Azera - 2007 Hyundai Azera
  By Captain - September 30 - 12:40 am

  This is my 35th car in 75 years. I have had all kinds from Model As to Lincolns. The Azera tops them all in every except fuel economy.

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  Initially Pleased / Later Horrified - 2005 Hyundai Sonata
  By Russell Gardner - September 28 - 3:13 pm

  Happy with look and performance of the car. Attracted by the "best warranty". After 2.5 years have found it to be built CHEAP, plastic that breaks, seats & mats have worn out. Reliability of car is HORRIBLE. In 2.5 years I have spent over $1,000 for service to maintain the warranty, $2,500 for items not covered by the warranty and the warranty has covered over $4,000 of items that have also broke. Reliability issues have been 2 dead batteries, had to replace flywheel, replace clutch - wore out in 21,000 miles, dome light, cup holders cracked, stereo, auto door locks replaced, alternater died, and steering wheel and seats have cracks and tears in them now. Never another Hyundai for me!

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  59k - 2007 Hyundai Entourage
  By Christian Kramer - September 28 - 12:03 pm

  We have 59k on the van to date and have had no problems.

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  Over sold - 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By secrets - September 28 - 4:24 am

  We bought this car strictly for the fuel economy. We were trading up from a 23mpg vehicle to a 40mpg car. We have never gotten more tha 35mpg with an average of 30.1mpg. I normally never buy new, and I will not buy a hybrid ever again. Knowing then what i know now i would have bought the cheaper turbo model. We are very disapointed with the MPG.

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  Fun Ride - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By lee w - September 27 - 3:36 am

  Basically I have had very little trouble with the car aside from a rattle in the rear that they have not yet fixed. I like that nobody around seems to have one but they all ask about it.

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  Very Nice Porche-style car - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By TNchicklet - September 27 - 2:00 am

  I drive it in Europe and turn heads.

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  One happy owner - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By Barbara P. - September 27 - 2:00 am

  we are thrilled with the look,the comfort and reliability xg350L. Everyone who sees it loves it, and its a joy to drive,

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  Unbelievable car! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By joe jones - September 27 - 2:00 am

  Great car for 25000, nevermind the 17000 sticker price

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  Love my baby.... - 2018 Hyundai Sonata
  By Gabe - September 26 - 4:28 pm

  Great value. I call my 2018 Turbo Sport "Leila" because she is a beautiful black piece of machinery. There were other models I was interested like the sporty version of the Camry and the Tesla but for all practical reasons, the Sonata have me the best value for my $$$. The only improvement I strongly recommend is that the stereo system lacks BASS power.

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  Amazing - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By suvlover21 - September 26 - 3:02 am

  Bought this vehicle used just recently after looking for the past 3 months for an SUV that suited my needs. I test drove SUVs ranging from the kia Sorento Base all the way upto a Mazda Cx9 loaded. The Veracruz V6 and 6 speed transmission gives it plenty of power to get out into traffic, merge, and pass. The ride is incredibly smooth as well as the transmission shifts. I also love the fact I found an SUV that averages 20.5 MPG in mixed driving when my 2007 V6 sedan was averaging 25 mixed, I figured Id be dropping MPG a lot more than that and I am quite satisfied I was wrong.